2001 Sharpie 500
# 2001 Sharpie 500

The 2001 Sharpie 500 was the 24th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 41st iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 25, 2001, in Bristol, Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533 miles (0.858 km) permanent oval-shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 500 laps to complete. At race's end, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would control the late stages of the race to win his 12th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victory and his third and final victory of the season. To fill out the podium, Kevin Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, and Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would finish second and third, respectively.

## Background

The Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its short length, Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, and stadium-like seating. It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Cingular Wireless |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 09 | Geoff Bodine (i) | Phoenix Racing | Ford | Smirnoff Ice |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 13 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | Virginia Lottery |
| 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt New Products |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries |
| 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar Trucks |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW, Delphi |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart School Spirit |
| 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Duke's Mayonnaise, Ingles |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | America Online |
| 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Schult Homes, Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Target, Coors Light |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Sparkle |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Sprint PCS |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | Realtree |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | Mansion Motorsports |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Bros. Coffee |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Amoco Ultimate |
| 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | McDonald's |
| 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Supergard |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, August 24, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for two hours. Jeff Green, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.276 and an average speed of 125.609 miles per hour (202.148 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.276 | 125.609 |
| 2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.336 | 125.117 |
| 3 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.406 | 124.549 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, August 24, at 5:45 PM EST. The session would last for one hour and 30 minutes. Elliott Sadler, driving for Wood Brothers Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 15.929 and an average speed of 120.460 miles per hour (193.862 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.929 | 120.460 |
| 2 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.961 | 120.218 |
| 3 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.981 | 120.068 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, August 24, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.

Jeff Green, driving for Richard Childress Racing, would win the pole, setting a time of 15.515 and an average speed of 123.674 miles per hour (199.034 km/h).

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.515 | 123.674 |
| 2 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.539 | 123.483 |
| 3 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 15.543 | 123.451 |
| 4 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 15.549 | 123.403 |
| 5 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.550 | 123.395 |
| 6 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.557 | 123.340 |
| 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 15.571 | 123.229 |
| 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 15.592 | 123.063 |
| 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.621 | 122.835 |
| 10 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 15.637 | 122.709 |
| 11 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 15.638 | 122.701 |
| 12 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.643 | 122.662 |
| 13 | 09 | Geoff Bodine (i) | Phoenix Racing | Ford | 15.646 | 122.638 |
| 14 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 15.661 | 122.521 |
| 15 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 15.662 | 122.513 |
| 16 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 15.669 | 122.458 |
| 17 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 15.684 | 122.341 |
| 18 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 15.684 | 122.341 |
| 19 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 15.686 | 122.326 |
| 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 15.687 | 122.318 |
| 21 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.697 | 122.240 |
| 22 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.705 | 122.178 |
| 23 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 15.714 | 122.108 |
| 24 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 15.715 | 122.100 |
| 25 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.716 | 122.092 |
| 26 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.719 | 122.069 |
| 27 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 15.737 | 121.929 |
| 28 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 15.740 | 121.906 |
| 29 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 15.754 | 121.798 |
| 30 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 15.756 | 121.782 |
| 31 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.764 | 121.720 |
| 32 | 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 15.767 | 121.697 |
| 33 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 15.778 | 121.612 |
| 34 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 15.783 | 121.574 |
| 35 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 15.784 | 121.566 |
| 36 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 15.787 | 121.543 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 15.801 | 121.435 |
| 38 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 15.806 | 121.397 |
| 39 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 15.839 | 121.144 |
| 40 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 16.002 | 119.910 |
| 41 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 15.804 | 121.412 |
| 42 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 15.883 | 120.809 |
| 43 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 15.819 | 121.297 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 15.836 | 121.167 |
| 45 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 15.861 | 120.976 |
| 46 | 13 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | 15.887 | 120.778 |
| 47 | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | 15.900 | 120.679 |
| 48 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 16.017 | 119.798 |
| 49 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 16.165 | 118.701 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 18 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 71 | running | 180 | $189,415 |
| 2 | 8 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 170 | $167,267 |
| 3 | 6 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 199 | running | 175 | $155,692 |
| 4 | 5 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 3 | running | 165 | $124,527 |
| 5 | 9 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 500 | 123 | running | 160 | $107,640 |
| 6 | 7 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 150 | $115,482 |
| 7 | 37 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 9 | running | 151 | $90,533 |
| 8 | 16 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 500 | 0 | running | 142 | $110,817 |
| 9 | 17 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 138 | $81,500 |
| 10 | 21 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 134 | $97,720 |
| 11 | 4 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 130 | $83,860 |
| 12 | 14 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 500 | 0 | running | 127 | $90,775 |
| 13 | 25 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 500 | 10 | running | 129 | $63,801 |
| 14 | 24 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 500 | 0 | running | 121 | $85,063 |
| 15 | 22 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 500 | 0 | running | 118 | $99,506 |
| 16 | 30 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 499 | 0 | running | 115 | $93,144 |
| 17 | 34 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 499 | 0 | running | 112 | $53,510 |
| 18 | 28 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 498 | 0 | running | 109 | $53,250 |
| 19 | 35 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 496 | 0 | running | 106 | $77,748 |
| 20 | 12 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 496 | 0 | running | 103 | $64,185 |
| 21 | 42 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 496 | 0 | running | 100 | $88,487 |
| 22 | 11 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 495 | 0 | running | 97 | $64,800 |
| 23 | 15 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 495 | 0 | running | 94 | $59,560 |
| 24 | 41 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 493 | 0 | running | 91 | $79,155 |
| 25 | 26 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 490 | 0 | running | 88 | $58,980 |
| 26 | 20 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 488 | 0 | running | 85 | $52,390 |
| 27 | 13 | 09 | Geoff Bodine (i) | Phoenix Racing | Ford | 486 | 0 | running | 0 | $45,305 |
| 28 | 19 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 442 | 0 | running | 79 | $54,795 |
| 29 | 3 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 441 | 0 | running | 76 | $44,085 |
| 30 | 43 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 436 | 0 | running | 73 | $52,025 |
| 31 | 27 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 421 | 0 | running | 70 | $51,415 |
| 32 | 10 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 396 | 0 | crash | 67 | $43,330 |
| 33 | 38 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 394 | 0 | crash | 64 | $51,295 |
| 34 | 2 | 31 | Mike Skinner | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 383 | 0 | running | 61 | $76,084 |
| 35 | 23 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 374 | 0 | engine | 58 | $51,230 |
| 36 | 29 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 343 | 0 | crash | 55 | $51,185 |
| 37 | 31 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 336 | 0 | running | 52 | $87,470 |
| 38 | 39 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 239 | 14 | crash | 54 | $43,050 |
| 39 | 40 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 233 | 0 | crash | 46 | $53,000 |
| 40 | 33 | 96 | Andy Houston (R) | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 127 | 0 | crash | 43 | $42,925 |
| 41 | 32 | 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 113 | 0 | crash | 40 | $42,875 |
| 42 | 1 | 30 | Jeff Green | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 85 | 71 | crash | 42 | $47,825 |
| 43 | 36 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 67 | 0 | crash | 34 | $51,022 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | | | | | |
| 45 | | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | | | | | |
| 46 | | 13 | Hermie Sadler | SCORE Motorsports | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 47 | | 71 | Dave Marcis | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | | | | | |
| 48 | | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | | | | | |
| 49 | | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
